Friday, February 14, 2014

on gathering and running your race

So there is this place I like to imagine. A place where the
body of Christ works together in harmony as Jesus intended. A place where we
take care of our own and reach out to the lonely and the forgotten. Where we
laugh deep, cry hard, and savor often. It’s called community. And the Lord has
been speaking to me about the importance of it lately-how it cannot be replaced
or faked.

Community is of the utmost importance when walking with Christ.
We need each other. I am an extrovert. I crave to be around people and thrive
in one-on-one quality time spent with those whom I love. It energizes me and
gives me the strength I need to push through and keep on keepin’ on. And yet
sometimes, I want to go it alone. I don’t want to need anyone. I am strong and
capable on my own. Until I’m not. As believers,
and especially as women, we have to remember the importance of gathering
together. Of encouraging one another towards the pursuit of our dreams and
holiness. If not, how will we move forward outside of our own striving?

Last weekend, a couple friends and I sat down to watch the
simulcast of a women’s conference called IF: Gathering. The premise was a
simple question: “If God is real, then what?” How do we live if God is who He
says He is? Should our lives look any different if we say we believe the Bible
is true and infallible? I sure hope so. Many amazing women shared during this conference,
but one woman truly stood out to me. Her name is Bianca Olthoff, and she is a
speaker, blogger, and activist for the A21 Campaign, which fights human
trafficking in various countries worldwide. The focus Scripture for the weekend
was Hebrews 12:1-2, which says

Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us
strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily
trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We
do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects
our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding
its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Y’all know I love to run. Yes, I’m so slow that I should
call it jogging, but that’s beside the point. These verses in Hebrews give us
the push we need to keep going. We are not alone. And the fight is worth it. We
need each other, and we need Christ. How else are we going to win the prize?

I’ll leave y’all with an excerpt from Bianca’s closing prayer.

We are whole-heartedly
devoted to the purpose and calling God made for us and we have no intention of
letting the world define us because we know who we are:

Humble fighters,
dedicated runners, and strong and mighty servants of the living God.

In Christ we are
courageous.

In Christ we are
confident.

Our heart is
steadfast.

Our purpose is
immovable.

We are always
abounding in the work of the Lord.

And our potential is
unlimited because the limitless God lives within us.